St. John's Cross

known also as the Maltese Cross, Pattée Cross and several other names

St. John's Cross, known also as the Amalfi, Maltese, Regeneration, Fishtail, Honour, Knights, Campaign and Iron Cross. In heraldry it is called Pattée or Formy Cross. Several other names are given to crosses of this shape, as explained below.

Pattée Cross / St. John's / Maltese Cross

The Cross Pattée (Patty) or Cross Formée (Formy) is the heraldic name of a common cross style, especially in 'medieval' art. The term pattée simply means the cross has splayed arm ends. The arms may be straight or concave but in essence, they are narrow at the centre, and broader at the perimeter. The name pattée comes from the French for 'paw'.

There are several variations of the design. When the arms meet at a point in the centre, they produce a cross consisting of four triangles; the triangle represents an arrow in heraldry, or the Holy Trinity in a Christian context.

The arms also resemble the vanes of a windmill. Bread is a staple food for life and an early manufacturing process of bread traditionally includes the rotating sails of a windmill. This rotation can symbolise the spiritual regeneration brought about by the Crucifixion of Jesus on the cross.

A further interpretation is that the arms represent rays of light. See the Glory Cross.

The Pattée Cross may be styled with straight or curved arms, straight or curved edges, concave or convex.

Triangular

Wedge

Concave arms, convex ends

Concave arms, straight ends

Concave arms, concave ends

Sharp

Bolnisi Cross(Click image to enlarge)

One of the earliest examples of cross with concave arms and ends is the Bolnisi Cross, which is featured in the 14th century flag of the Republic of Georgia. This cross (Georgian: bolnur katskhuri) is from a 5th century frieze at the Georgian Orthodox basilica Bolnisi Sioni (Zion) Cathedral in Bolnisi, Georgia's oldest extant church building.

In addition to the windmill analogy mentioned above, this is sometimes called the Regeneration Cross because it has eight points. Eight symbolises regeneration for many religious ideas. It is the holistic number in Buddhism for the number of steps to end suffering.

The number 8, like the lemniscate symbol for infinity , is a never-ending line. Tracing the shape of the 8 differs from the circle, square, triangle, etc., in that the line crosses itself in the centre. This crossing symbolises death. But the line does not stop there; it carries on into a new life, just as the Christian cross symbolises new life. The eight therefore represents life, death, and rebirth.

In Christianity, because Christ rose from grave eight days after entering Jerusalem, the number is associated with the rebirth of Christ and also baptism; the spiritual rebirth of a person. These eight points on the cross also represent the eight beatitudes.

Maltese Cross in logos and other emblems

ELCF

The Maltese Cross appears in the logo of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ELCF) (see also Lutheran Cross).

Not surprisingly, St John Ambulance logo incorporates the cross used by the Knights Hospitaller, the Cross of Saint John.

Military Cross of Valour

One interpretation of the 'sharp' pointed cross is of four fishtails. The fish symbol was adopted by the early Christian Church and the design has long been used as a Hospitaller Cross and Crusader Cross.

Rockabilly Cross / Biker's Cross

D-r-r-rag racing off in a different direction; brave, risk-taking, dare-devilish behaviour has led to variations the St. John's Cross becoming popular with fans of hot-rods, rockabilly and the general rock'n'roll scene. Various names, one of the popular being Biker's Cross.

Maltese Cross on Flags

Poltava Oblast

The Maltese Cross can be seen on several municipal flags, including the provincial Ukrainian flags of Poltava Oblast, Rivne Oblast and Vinnytsia Oblast, where this cross is known as the Cossack Cross, a Ukrainian medal of honour. In czarist Russia, Slavs living mainly in the southern part of Russia formed an elite corps of cavalrymen. The name retains its brave, adventurous and somewhat guerrilla fighting image.

Georgia

The large cross on flag of Georgia is a Greek Cross, but there are also four small Maltese crosses (bolnur katskhuri). The five crosses give us a type of Jerusalem Cross.

The Maltese Cross has many similarities with the George Cross, also known as the Greek Cross. The civil ensign of Malta is a white Maltese Cross on a red ground, but the present day national flag of Malta (shown on the right) bears a George Cross rather than a Maltese Cross.